WO2012052049A1

WO2012052049A1 - Transmission ability feedback from a communication device towards a network control node

Info

Publication number: WO2012052049A1
Application number: PCT/EP2010/065644
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jürgen LERZER; Stefan Meyer
Original assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget L M Ericsson (Publ)
Priority date: 2010-10-18
Filing date: 2010-10-18
Publication date: 2012-04-26

Abstract

The invention relates to a communication device (10) for communicating over a communication network according to a scheduling grant received from a network control node (20), comprising a processor (101) for generating a transmission ability indicator, the transmission ability indicator indicative of an ability to transmit data according to the scheduling grant; and a transmitter (103) for transmitting the transmission ability indicator towards the network control node. The invention further relates to a corresponding control node (20), to a corresponding communication system and to methods to be performed by such communication device, control node and communication system.

Description

DESCRIPTION

Transmission Ability Feedback from a Communication Device towards

Network Control Node

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates uplink data control within a communications network.

Emerging mobile communication technologies such as E-UTRA (Evolved UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access) or UTRA (UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access) or 3GPP LTE (Long Term Evolution) are designed to support mobile communications upon the basis of mobile user equipment (UE), e.g. mobile terminals or handset devices. In this regard, the development of communication device 10 devices such as mobile terminals or hand sets for communicating over radio communication networks is subject to improvements reflecting certain technology trends. One technology trend is to reduce weight and size of the communication device 10 which results in a need for smaller energy sources, e.g. batteries. Another technology trend is to provide more and smarter functions within the communication device 10 which is often associated with an increased consumption of electrical power. Even though the energy source development has brought increasingly powerful batteries, the UE power consumption is a critical parameter especially with regard to high data rate UEs which, by way of example, are suitable for UTRAN (UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network) and E-UTRAN (Evolved UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network). The energy consumption is further affected by limitations with respect to thermal energy dissipation which may be an important aspect with respect to power consumption in future UE technologies.

In order to implement UE devices employing such technology as discussed above, an architecture enabling e.g. an integration high speed access and processing, data cards and further devices requiring wireless connectivity at high data rates e.g. a camera, a PDA (Personal Digital System), mobile TV (Television) etc. may be chosen. In this regard, the power consumption of corresponding UEs may be subject to certain power consumption limits and restrictions which are, by way of example, summarized in the following table for a UE being implemented into a PCIe (Peripheral Component Interconnect Express) mini card. PCIe Mini Card Notes

3.3V Tolerance ± 0.3V

3.3V Average Current 1 100 mA Averaged over any 1 second interval

3.3V Maximum Current 2750 mA Averaged over 100 μ8βο ίθΓ PCIe.

1 .5V Tolerance ± 0.075V

1 .5V Average Current 375 mA

1 .5V Max Current 500 mA

Allowed total heat 2.3 W When all components are rated for a case dissipation for class 1 temperature of 90C.

devices

Allowed total heat 3.1 W

dissipation for class 2

devices

For a deployment in a USB dongle/stick the 5V (Tolerance: ± 0.25V) Average and Maximum Current per USB port is 500 mA for a high power USB 2.0 device. There is no restriction concerning the allowed heat dissipation. I.e. in case a USB dongle has 1 USB port it may consume maximum 2.5 W, in case it has 2 USB ports it may consume up to 5W. The above listed values may be taken as limits for a mobile terminal when deployed in a single-mode device. In case of a deployment in a multi-mode device the power consumption of other devices may be taken in account, which leads to a further reduction of the maximum allowed limits.

In this regard, the US 6,760,31 1 discloses a mobile terminal, wherein certain operating parameters, such as the transmission data rate, are controlled such that a certain temperature threshold is not exceeded . US 6,064,857 discloses a satellite telephone with a hybrid battery and a capacitor power supply comprising a switching circuit coupled to said battery and said capacitor for selectively coupling one of (a) the battery alone, (b) the capacitor alone, and (c) both together in parallel to the transmitter, depending on the data rate.

In order to meet the above-mentioned power consumption limits, throughput throttling may be deployed for handling an absolute current limit of a host power supply like for a deployment of a modem as USB dongle, for handling an average current limit of a host power supply like for a deployment of a modem as PCIe mini card, for handling an average heat dissipation limit of a host environment like for a deployment of a modem as PCIe mini card or in a smart phone. By means of the throughput throttling, either an amount of data to be transmitted during a uplink scheduling pattern interval, i.e. in an uplink transmission frame, is reduced, or a transmission in that uplink scheduling pattern interval is suppressed. However, since the throughput throttling is deployed by the UE, the unused communication resources may not be assigned to another UE which may reduce the network performance.

SUMMARY

It is the object of the invention to provide a concept for efficiently managing resources of a communication device for communicating in a communication network, in particular in a mobile communication network.

This object is achieved by the independent claims. Further embodiments are apparent from the dependent claims, the description and the accompanying drawings.

The invention is based on the find ing that communication resources may be efficiently managed if a network control node which is responsible for scheduling resources of a plurality of communication devices is aware of the communication devices abilities or capabilities with respect to a transmission of data towards the network. By way of example, if one communication device might be unable to fulfill an agreed resource schedule, the control node might allocate such unused resource to other communication devices, if such lack of abil ity is known in advance.

Accord ing to an embodiment, the communication device transmits a data transmission ability information towards the network control node indicative of an ability to fulfill a transmission according to a scheduled resource scheme also being referred to as scheduling grant.

According to an embodiment, the communication device comprises a processor for generating the transmission ability indicator. The communication device further comprises a transmitter for transmitting the transmission abil ity towards the communication network.

The uplink scheduling pattern interval may be formed by an uplink transmission subframe. Thus, the transmission ability indicator may be an uplink transmission ability ind icator indicating the uplink, i.e. towards a communication network, transmission ability of the communication device.

The communication device may be e.g. a mobile terminal such as user equipment (UE) or a data card or a universal serial bus (USB) device or a wireless modem or a smart phone or a personal digital assistant (PDA). The transmission ability indicator indicates the ability of the communication device to transmit data which may comprise payload and/or control data in an uplink scheduling pattern interval as e.g. indicated by the scheduling grant. The scheduling grant may be provided by a control node of the communication network, e.g. by eNodeB according to the LTE technology. The scheduling grant may e.g. indicate communication resources which are available for the communication device to transmit e.g. data within the uplink scheduling pattern interval to which the scheduling grant refers. According to the LTE technology, the communication resources may comprise a number of resource blocks, in particular a number of carriers, for transmission within a uplink scheduling pattern interval. Hence, the transmission ability indicator may indicate the amount of communication resources, e.g. an amount of resource blocks, which may be used or which may not be used by the communication device within the uplin k scheduling pattern interval for transmission . The transmission abil ity indicator is transmitted towards the communication network in order to inform the control node whether the communication device is able to transmit towards the communication network in the uplink scheduling pattern interval according to this scheduling grant.

According to an embodiment, the transmission ability indicator indicates an ability or a lack of ability of the communication device to fulfill or serve the scheduling grant. By way of example, the transmission ability indicator may comprise a tag indicating that the communication device is able to transmit e.g. data according to the scheduling grant or that the communication device is not able to transmit data according to the scheduling grant. The transmission ability indicator may e.g. indicate the amount of data by which the granted amount of data for transmission during the certain uplink scheduling pattern interval may be reduced.

According to an embodiment, the scheduling grant indicates a number of resource blocks, in particular a number of carriers according to the Long Term Evolution technology, for transmission within the uplink scheduling pattern interval. The transmission ability indicator may indicate at least one of: a reduction of the number of resource blocks, an acknowledgement of a transmission of the number of resource blocks within the uplink scheduling pattern interval, an increase or a decrease of the number of resource blocks, an increase or a decrease of a number of scheduling grants for the communication device, an acknowledgement of a fulfillment of a number of scheduling grants for the communication device, a spare capacity to fulfill an increased number of scheduling grants or to fulfill a scheduling grant which allocates an increased number of resource blocks, or a n u m ber of add ition al sch ed u l i ng g ra nts wh ich may be ha nd led by th e communication device, and a duration of uplink (UL) scheduling pattern interval. According to an embodiment, the processor may be configured to determine an energy consumption of the communication device, and to generate the transmission ability indicator upon the basis of the energy consumption and an energy consumption limit. The energy consumption limit comprising e.g. a current limit, in particular an average current limit, of an energy storage which may be an additional energy storage with respect to the main power supply (e.g . the U E battery), e.g. realized by means of an electrical capacitor. Such energy storage might be loaded with electrical energy from the main power supply in periods where the UE power consumption is low (e.g. below a certain threshold). Such energy m ig ht be ava ilable to power an u pl in k data tran sm iss ion of the communication device e.g. in addition to power from the main power supply. The current limit associated to the energy storage might be dependent on a storage capacity of the energy storage and/or on any current limits associated to the energy storage.

According to an embodiment, the current limit is depending derived on a heat energy dissipation limit, in particular an average heat energy dissipation limit, or on any combination of different limits.

In order to determine the energy consumption of the communication device, the processor may monitor and/or record typical or mean energy consumption during any uplink scheduling pattern interval, or an average energy consumption . The transmission ability indicator may be determined upon the basis of a comparison of the determined energy consumption of the communication device and the energy consumption limit. If, by way of example, the data transmission according to the scheduling grant during the uplink scheduling pattern interval is associated with an energy consumption which is above the energy consumption limit, then the transmission ability indicator may indicate that the communication device is not able to transmit data according to the scheduling grant. Conversely, if the energy consumption of the communication device is lower than or equal to the energy consumption limit, then the transmission ability indicator may indicate that the communication device may fulfill the scheduling grant, e.g. that the communication device is able to transmit data according to the scheduling grant during the uplink scheduling pattern interval.

According to an embodiment, the processor may be configured to determine an energy consumption of the communication device, and, if the energy consumption is equal to or greater than an energy consumption limit, e.g. the above mentioned energy consumption limit, to generate the transmission ability indicator in order to indicate that the communication device is not able for transmission according to the scheduling grant. Conversely, if the energy consumption is equal to or smaller than an energy consumption limit, then the processor is configured to generate the ability indicator in order to indicate that the communication device is able for transmission according to the scheduling grant. The transmission may include payload and/or control data transmission.

According to an embodiment, the processor may be configured to compare an energy consumption of the communication device with an energy consumption limit, e.g. with the aforementioned energy consumption limit, in order to generate the transmission ability indicator. The comparison may be performed in order to determine whether the energy consumption is lower than, equal to or greater than the energy consumption limit.

According to an embodiment, the processor may be configured to determine the transm ission abi l ity ind icator using at least one of: an average energy consumption, of the communication device per uplink scheduling pattern interval, a target energy consum ption of the com mun ication device, a basic energy consumption of the communication device without data transmission, an available energy for transmission, a stored energy amount in the energy storage, and a heat energy dissipation. By way of example, if the target energy consumption of the communication device in the uplink scheduling pattern interval exceeds the available energy for transmission, then the transmission ability indicator may indicate that the communication device is not able to fulfill the scheduling grant. In this regard, the target energy consumption of the communication device may be a preferred energy consumption or a preferred average energy consumption of the communication device. If the heat energy dissipation forms an energy limit, then an average heat energy dissipation, a target heat energy dissipation and a basic heat energy dissipation may be used for determining the transmission ability indicator, TXAI.

According to an embodiment, the processor may be configured to generate the transmission ability indicator upon the basis of the stored energy amount in the energy storage or upon the basis of a storage capacity of the energy storage. The energy storage may be formed by a capacitor integrated in the communication device, or by any external power supply.

According to an embodiment, the processor may be configured to determine the transmission ability indicator periodically, upon request or upon a modification of the transmission ability indicator. In addition or alternatively, the transmitter may be configured to transmit the transmission ability indicator periodically or upon request or upon a change of the transmission ability indicator or in dependence on what the transmission ability indicator indicates. By way of exam ple, if the transmission ability indicator indicates that the scheduling grant may be fulfilled, then the transmission ability indicator may not be transmitted towards the communication network. Conversely, if the transmission ability indicator indicates that the communication device may not fulfill the scheduling grant, then the transmitter may transmit the transmission ability indicator.

According to an embodiment, the communication device may be configured to communicate over the commun ication network accord ing to the Long Term Evolution technology. However, the communication device may be arranged to communicate according to any known wireless communication standard.

According to another aspect, the invention relates to a network control node for scheduling communications of a communication device, e.g . of the inventive communication device, towards a communication network. The network control node comprises a receiver for receiving a transmission ability indicator over the communication network e.g . d irectly from the commun ication device, the transmission ability indicator indicating an ability of the communication device for transmission according to a scheduling grant, and a processor for adapting a scheduling scheme for the communication device upon the basis of the transmission ability indicator. By way of example, the network control node may have transmitted the scheduling grant towards the communication device during a previous downlink uplink scheduling pattern interval. The scheduling grant may reflect the scheduling scheme which may comprise a number of resource blocks per scheduling grant or a number of scheduling grants for the communication device or a length of a uplink scheduling pattern interval. Thus, when adapting the scheduling scheme, the processor may change the number of resource blocks or may change the number of scheduling grants or may change a duration of the uplink scheduling pattern interval, by way of example.

According to an embodiment, the scheduling scheme comprises at least one of: a number of resource blocks for transmission within a uplink scheduling pattern interval, an amendment of a number of resource blocks for transmission within a uplink scheduling pattern interval, a number of uplink scheduling pattern intervals for the communication device, a number of sch ed u l i ng g ra nts for th e communication device, a duration of a uplink scheduling pattern interval, in particular a maximum duration of a uplink scheduling pattern interval. By indicating the maximum duration of the uplink scheduling pattern interval, an energy storage limitation aware scheduling may be provided. Correspondingly, the network control node which may form a scheduler may take the maximum duration of the uplink scheduling pattern interval due to the energy storage limitation into account when adapting the scheduling scheme for the communication device. Furthermore, the scheduling scheme may comprise a scheduling ratio between a number of uplink scheduling pattern intervals for transmission and a total n u mber of uplink scheduling pattern intervals. By way of example, the uplink scheduling pattern intervals may be formed by uplink data transmission frames for uplink data transmission by the communication device.

According to an embodiment, the processor may be configured to adapt the scheduling scheme if the received transmission ability indicator differs from a previously received transmission ability indicator or upon change of the scheduling scheme or upon change of environmental conditions such as temperature or achievable data rate.

According to an embodiment, the network control node may be an eNodeB according to the Long Term Evolution technology. However, the network control node may also be formed by a base station according to the UMTS technology or according to any wireless communication technology.

According to a further aspect, the invention relates to a communication system, which comprises the inventive communication device and the inventive network control node.

According to a further aspect, the invention relates to a method for managing communications of a communication device towards a communication network. The m ethod com prises generating a transmission ability indicator, the transmission ability indicator indicating an ability of the communication device for transmission according to a scheduling grant; and transmitting the transmission ability indicator towards the communication network.

Further steps of the method for managing communications are directly derivable from the functionality of the communication device.

According to a further aspect, the invention relates to a method for scheduling communications of a communication device towards a communication network. The method comprises receiving a transmission ability indicator over the communication network, the transmission ability indicator indicating an ability of the communication device for transmission according to a scheduling grant, and adapting a scheduling scheme for the communication device upon the basis of the transmission ability indicator. Further method steps are directly derivable from the functionality of the network control node.

According to a further aspect, the invention relates to a communication method, comprising managing communications of a communication device towards a communication network according to the method for managing communications of the communication device, and scheduling communications of the communication device towards the commun ication network accord ing to the method for scheduling communications of the communication device. Further method steps are directly derivable from the functionality of the inventive communication system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further embodiments will be described with respect to the following Figures, in which:

Fig. 1 shows a principle block diagram of a communication device; Fig. 2 shows a principle block diagram of a network control node;

Fig. 3 shows a communication system comprising the communication device of Fig. 1 and the network control node of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 shows a principle diagram of a method for managing communications;

Fig. 5 shows a principle diagram of a method for scheduling communications; and

Fig. 6 shows a principle block diagram of a communication method.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Fig. 1 shows a block diagram of a communication device 10 for communicating towards a communication network. The communication device 10 comprises a processor 101 for generating a transmission ability indicator. The transmission ability indicator indicates an ability of the communication device for transmission according to a scheduling grant. The communication device further comprises a transmitter 1 03 for transmitting the transmission ability indicator towards the communication network, in particular towards a network control node arranged in the communication network. The transmitter 103 may be a wireless transmitter and/or may be arranged for IP communications. The communication device may be a data card or a wireless modem device or a USB stick or a wireless module for machine-to-machine applications, by way of example. The processor 101 may be an entity which is able to process signals or data according e.g. to the Long Term Evolution technology. The commun ication device further might comprise an ordinary power supply 105 (e.g. the device battery) and an energy buffer or energy storage 107 (e.g. an electrical capacitor or an electrical circuit comprising an electrical capacitor). Th e en ergy storag e 1 07 m ig ht be conti n uou sl y or intermittently loaded with electrical energy from the power supply 105, and is dedicated to provide loaded energy to the transmitter 103 in time periods, wherein the transmitter is transmitting at high data rates. The processor 101 is configured to receive state information and/or parameters associated to the energy storage 107, e.g. the energy actually loaded. Also further energy information might be received by the processor, e.g. information about an actual current and a current l imit, an actual heat and a heat l imit etc. The processor 1 01 evaluates the resources comprising the available energy, determines an ability to transmit data according to the scheduling grant, and generates the ability indicator according to the determined ability.

Fig . 2 shows a block diagram of a network control node 20 for scheduling communications of a communication device, e.g. of the communication device shown in Fig . 1 , towards a communication network. The network control node comprises a receiver 201 for receiving a transmission ability indicator over the communication network e.g. from the communication device shown in Fig. 1 . In particular, the transmission abil ity ind icator may ind icate the abil ity of the communication device for transmission according to a scheduling grant. The scheduling grant may had been provided to the communication device by the network control node during a previous downlink uplink scheduling pattern interval, i.e. downlink transmission frame. The network control node further comprises a processor 203 for adapting a scheduling scheme for the communication device upon the basis of the transmission ability indicator. The scheduling scheme may comprise e.g. a number of resource blocks for transmission or an amendment of a number of resource blocks or a number of uplink scheduling pattern intervals or a number of scheduling grants or a duration, in particular a maximum duration, of a uplink scheduling pattern interval. The network control node may further comprise a transmitter 203 for transmitting a scheduling grant towards the communication node, e.g. towards the communication node shown in Fig. 1 over a communication network. In particular, the adapted scheduling scheme may be taken into account in a future scheduling grant which is to be transmitted towards the communication device for future transmissions. The updated scheduling grant may be transmitted by the transmitter 205.

Fig . 3 shows a block d iagram of a communication system comprising the communication device 10 of Fig. 1 , and the network control node 20 of Fig. 2. The communication device 10 and the network control node 20 may communicate with each other according to the Long Term Evolution technology as discussed in the introduction. Thus, according to an embodiment, the communication device 10 may be a so-called user equipment -UE-, and the network control node may be an eNodeB. Similarly to Fig .1 , the communication device 10 may comprise a (radio) transmitter 103 and a (baseband) processor 1 01 for generating a transmission abil ity ind icator e.g . upon the basis of energy information , such as energy consumption or energy consumption limit of the communication device 10 as discussed above. The communication device 10 further comprises a transmitter 103 for transmitting the transmission ability indicator towards the network control node 20.

The network control node 20 coordinates a reception of UL data of a plurality of communication devices within a creation region (e.g. one or a plurality of so-called cells). The network control node 20 transmits to each of the devices grant information comprising a resource scheduling information (scheduling grants) as discussed in more details in the following.

The processor 101 may, upon the basis energy information as discussed above, determine whether the scheduling grant may be fulfilled, and inform the network control node 20 accordingly. By way of example, if the communication device 10 is able to fulfill the scheduling grant, then the processor may transmit a control signal towards the transmitter 103 to trigger a transm ission of upl in k (U L) data . Conversely, if the communication device 10 is not able to fulfill the scheduling grant, then the processor may transmit a control signal towards the transmitter 103 to trigger a transmission of uplink (UL) data with e.g. a throttled throughput.

With reference to the embodiments shown in Figs. 1 to 3, an energy consumption limitation aware scheduling may be performed . In order to consider average energy consumption limitations (ECL) of the commun ication device 10 to overcome the above mentioned problems, the uplink transmission ability may be signaled from the communication device 10 towards the network control node 20 which may use this information for determining the scheduling for this UE. In this regard, the communication device 10 may monitor during uplink transmission phases whether the actual energy consumption fulfills an energy consumption limit, e.g. an absolute current limit of a host power supply like for a deployment of a modem as USB dongle forming embodiments of the communication device 10, an average current limit of a host power supply like for a deployment of a modem as PCIe mini card forming embodiments of the communication device 10, an average heat energy dissipation limit of a host environment like for a deployment of a modem as PCIe mini card or in a smart phone forming embodiments of the communication device 10, or an average heat energy dissipation limit for overheating protection of the modem. The communication device 10, e.g. by means of the processor 101 , may calculate period ically or event based an indication value about the actual uplink transmission ability. In consideration of at least one of the given energy consumption limits this uplink transmission ability indicator may indicate whether the communication device 10 may apply uplink throughput throttling in order to fulfill the scheduling grants from the network control node 20 such as eNodeB or that the communication device 10 has spare capacity in order to fulfill more scheduling grants and/or scheduling grants with an allocation of more resource blocks. I n case the communication device 10 may apply uplink throughput throttling, a quantitative indication about the amount of throttling may be provided.

In case the communication device 10 has spare capacity a quantitative indication about how much more scheduling grants may be handled is given. The communication device 10 may send the transmission ability indicator with an uplink transmission ability report (TXAR) to the network control node 20 which may contain an indication about the actual uplink transmission ability considering at least one of an energy consumption limit TXAI_ECL (Transmission Ability Indication considering Energy Consumption Limits). By way of example, the TXAI_ECL is sent when requested by the network control node 20 or periodically or event-based in case a change, in particular a significant change, of the uplink transmission ability indicator.

The network control node 20, e.g. the eNodeB in case of LTE, may receive the TXAI_ECL and may adapt the scheduling scheme for the communication device 10 with the goal of optimizing the capacity utilization of the network. Depending on implemented scheduling strategies this may be done as follows:

In case the communication device 10 indicates that it currently needs to apply uplink throughput throttling in order to fulfill the scheduling grants from the network control node 20, the network control node 20 may reduce the amount of scheduling grants for the communication device 10 according to the included quantitative indication about the amount of the actual needed uplink throughput throttling or reduce the resource block allocation within the scheduling grants according to the included quantitative indication about the amount of the actual needed uplink throughput throttling or apply a combination of the two above mentioned methods. In case the communication device 10 indicates that it has spare capacity in order to fulfill more scheduling grants and/or scheduling grants with an allocation of more resource blocks and the actual uplink throughput of the communication device 10 is below its target throughput the network control node 20 may in consideration of the implemented scheduling strategy increase the resource block allocation within the scheduling grants according to the included quantitative indication about how much more scheduling grants may be handled or increase the amount of scheduling grants for the communication device 10 according to the included quantitative indication about how much more scheduling grants may be handled or apply a combination of the two above mentioned methods.

According to some embodiments, an energy storage limitation aware scheduling may be performed. In case there is an absolute or peak energy consumption limit form the host current supply which is below a worst case energy consumption of the communication device 10 in a subframe, i .e. in a uplink scheduling pattern interval, an energy storage may be attached to an optional power management unit of the UE. According to an embodiment, optionally, an impact of the energy storage limitation (ESL) on the uplink transmission ability may be considered for determining the scheduling scheme for this UE. This may include the following steps:

The communication device 10 may have knowledge on the storage capacity of the attached energy storage and monitors during uplink transmission phases the actual energy consumption. In addition, the communication device 10 may calculate periodically or event based the transmission ability indicator indicating the actual uplink transmission ability. In consideration of the storage capacity of the attached energy storage, the transmission ability indicator may indicate whether the communication device 10 may apply uplink throughput throttling in order to fulfill the scheduling grants from the network control node 20 or that the communication device 10 has spare capacity in order to fulfill more scheduling grants and/or scheduling grants with an allocation of more resource blocks.

In case the communication device 10 considers to apply uplink throughput throttling because of an average energy consumption limitation, the following possibilities may be considered: The transmission ability indicator may not be determined because an indication about the actual uplink transmission ability considering the storage capacity of the attached energy storage is not applicable in case uplink throughput throttling because of an average energy consumption limitation is currently applied. Furthermore, a quantitative indication about the maximum duration of an uplink scheduling pattern interval which may be handled by the communication device 10 is given in consideration of the storage capacity of the attached energy storage and assuming the maximum average energy consumption which just fulfils that uplink throughput throttling would not need to be applied according to at least one of the given energy consumption limits.

In case the communication device 10 does not apply uplink throughput throttling because of an average energy consumption limitation a quantitative indication about the maximum uplink scheduling pattern interval which may be handled by the communication device 10 considering the storage capacity of the attached energy storage and the actual energy consumption is given.

The communication device 10 may transmit towards the network control node 20 the transmission ability indicator which value is indicative of the actual uplink transmission ability considering the storage capacity of the attached energy storage: TXAI_ESL (Transmission Ability Indication considering Energy Storage Limitation). By way o example, the TXAI_ESL may be transmitted when requested from the network control node 20 or periodically or event-based in case a change of the uplink transmission ability indication value was significant enough to report it. In one embodiment of the invention the TXAI_ESL may be included together with the TXAI_ECL in the TXAR.

The network control node 20, e.g. the eNodeB in case of LTE, may receive the TXAI_ESL and may adapt the scheduling for the communication device 10 with the goal of optimizing the capacity utilization of the network. Depending on implemented scheduling strategies this may be done as follows:

In case the communication device 10 indicates that it currently needs to apply uplink throughput throttling because of an average energy consumption limitation the network control node 20 may in consideration of the implemented scheduling strategy deployed perform the aforementioned approach for energy consumption limitation aware scheduling, or may in addition to the application of the energy consumption limitation aware scheduling adapt the scheduling interval for the communication device 10 in a way that it is lower or equal to the interval indicated with the TXAI ESL. In case the communication device 10 indicates that it currently does not need to apply uplink throughput throttling because of an average energy consumption limitation and the actual uplink throughput of the communication device 10 is below its target throughput the network control node 20 may in consideration of the implemented scheduling strategy apply energy consumption limitation aware scheduling by additionally considering the scheduling interval information indicated with the TXAI_ESL

In case the communication device 10 indicates that it currently needs to apply uplink throughput throttl ing because of an energy storage limitation but not because of an average energy consumption limitation and the actual uplink throughput of the communication device 10 is not below its target throughput the network control node 20 may in consideration of the implemented scheduling strategy adapt the scheduling interval for the communication device 10 in a way that it is lower or equal to the interval indicated with the TXAI_ESL.

F ig . 4 shows a d iag ram of a method for manag ing communications of a communication device towards a communication network. The method comprises generating 401 a transmission ability indicator which indicates an ability of the communication device for transmission according to a scheduling grant, and transmitting 403 the transmission ability indicator towards the communication network. By way of example, the method shown in Fig. 4 may be performed by the communication device shown in Fig. 1 .

Fig . 5 shows a d iagram of a method for schedul ing commun ications of a communication device towards a communication network. The method comprises receiving 501 a transmission ability indicator over the communication network, the transmission ability indicator indicating an ability of the communication device for transmission according to a scheduling grant, and adapting 503 a scheduling scheme for the communication device upon the basis of the transmission ability indicator.

Accord ing to an embod iment, the network control node of Fig . 2 may be configured to perform the method as shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. 6 shows a communication method comprising managing 601 communications of a communication device towards a communication network, and scheduling 603 communications of the commun ication device towards the communication network. According to an embodiment, the communication system shown in Fig. 3 may be configured to perform the communication method as shown in Fig. 6.

With reference to the embodiments shown in Figs. 1 to 6, an energy consumption limitation aware scheduling may be performed for the communication device 10 as described in the following. In order to determine the current uplink transmission ability indicator, the communication device 10 may determine the indicator TXAI_ECL to inform the network control node 20 whether the actual average energy consumption or average heat energy dissipation of the communication device 10 is above or below an a l lowed or target average va l u e . The communication device 10 may have knowledge on how the energy consumption or heat energy dissipation depends on downlink and uplink parameters. By way of example, the determination of TXAI ECL may be performed either event-triggered or periodically. Thus, the communication device 10 may monitor during uplink transmission phases determined by uplink scheduling pattern intervals whether the actual energy consumption fulfills an energy consumption limit, e.g. an absolute current limit of a host power supply like for a deployment of a modem as USB dongle, an average current limit of a host power supply like for a deployment of a modem as PCIe mini card, an average heat energy dissipation limit of a host environment like for a deployment of a modem as PCIe mini card or in a smart phone or an average heat energy dissipation limit for overheating protection of the modem.

Subsequently, according to an embodiment, ECL aware scheduling may be performed. In one embodiment, the transmission ability indicator may include a quantitative factor for indicating how much the actual value is above or below the target value. For the calculation of this transmission ability indicator the following parameters may used:

- t_average_ECL: Time period in number of subframes, i.e. uplink scheduling pattern intervals, over which the actual energy consumption or the actual heat energy d issipation in case an average heat d issipation limit is limiting the communication device 10 of the communication device 10 is averaged. By way of example, t_average_ECL may be either a configu ration parameter in the communication device 10 or configured by the network control node 20. - E_average_act: Actu a l , e . g . ave rag ed , e n e rg y co n s u m pt i on of th e communication device 10 or an averaged actual heat energy dissipation of the communication device 10 in case an average heat dissipation limit is limiting the communication device 10 per subframe, i.e. per uplink scheduling pattern interval, according to the scheduling as requested by the network control node 20 and preferably not after uplink throughput throttling has been applied by the UE. It may be averaged over the last t_average_ECL subframes. The last subframe of the averaging period may be the actual uplink subframe or an earlier subframe. This might either be dependent on the implementation in the communication device 10 or might be a fixed parameter in the protocol between the communication device 10 and the network control node 20.

- E_average_target: A target, e.g . average, energy consumptio n of th e communication device 10 or a target average heat energy dissipation of the communication device 10 in case an average heat dissipation limit is limiting the communication device 10 per subframe depending on the current active limit in the UE. This may be either a static or a dynamic limit.

- ETX_off: Energy consumption of the communication device 10 or heat energy dissipation of the communication device 10 in case an average heat dissipation limit is limiting the UE) per subframe for a subframe without uplink transmission depending on the actual radio network parameters e.g. used band or bandwidth.

TXAI_ECL may then be calculated as follows:

TXAI_ECL = (E_average_target - ETX_off) / (E_average_act - ETX_off)

A value of TXAI_ECL < 1 indicates that the communication device 10 may in the current situation not fulfill the scheduling grants from the network control node 20 according to an average energy consumption limit of the communication device 10 or an average heat energy dissipation limit of the communication device 10 in case an average heat dissipation limit is limiting the communication device 10 and thus may apply e.g. uplink throughput throttling. The TXAI_ECL value may indicate the amount of uplink throughput throttling which is needed to fulfill the currently valid limit. Assuming e.g. that the network control node 20 gives the communication device 10 the same schedul ing grants in 8 out of 1 0 subframes a value of TXAI_ECL = 0.75 indicates that the communication device 10 may currently only handle 6 (= 0.75^*8) out of 10 subframes with the same scheduling grants and thus may suppress 2 subframes.

TXAI_ECL > 1 indicates that the communication device 10 may in the current situation fulfill the scheduling grants from the network control node 20 according to an average energy consumption l im it of the communication device 10 or an average heat energy dissipation limit of the communication device 10 in case an average heat dissipation limit is limiting the UE. The TXAI_ECL value may indicate the amount of spare capacity which the communication device 10 has considering the currently valid limit. Assuming e.g. that the network control node 20 gives the communication device 10 the same scheduling grants in 4 out of 10 subframes a value of TXAI_ECL = 2 indicates that the communication device 10 would be able to handle currently up to 8 (= 2^*4) out of 10 subframes with the same scheduling grants.

According to another ECL aware scheduling embodiment, the communication device 10 calculates E_average_act and compares it with E_average_target in order to determine TXAI_ECL.

If E_average_act > E_average_target, the communication device 10 may in the actual situation not fulfill the scheduling grants from the network control node 20 according to an average energy consumption limit of the communication device 10 (or an average heat energy dissipation limit of the communication device 10 in case an average heat dissipation limit is limiting the communication device 10 and thus may apply e.g. uplink throughput throttling. This may e.g. be indicated by TXAI_ECL = 0.

If E_average_act < E_average_target then the communication device 10 may in the current situation fulfill the scheduling grants from the network control node 20 according to an average energy consumption limit of the communication device 10 or an average heat energy dissipation limit of the communication device 10 in case an average heat dissipation limit is limiting the UE. This may e.g. be indicated by TXAI_ECL = 1 .

According to yet another ECL aware scheduling embodiment, the communication device 10 may use the current state of the uplink throughput throttling functionality to determine TXAI ECL. In this regard, the communication device 10 sets TXAI_ECL = 0 in case the communication device 10 may throttle the uplink throughput, which means that communication device 10 may in the current situation not fulfill the scheduling grants from the network control node 20 according to an average energy consumption limit of the communication device 10 or an average heat energy dissipation limit of the communication device 10 in case an average heat dissipation limit is limiting the UE.

In case the communication device 10 needs not to throttle the uplink throughput, which means that the communication device 10 may in the current situation fulfill the scheduling grants from the network control node 20 according to an average energy consumption limit of the communication device 10 or an average heat energy dissipation limit of the communication device 10 in case an average heat dissipation limit is limiting the UE, the communication device 10 sets TXAI_ECL = 1 .

Subsequently, the current uplink transmission ability indicator, e.g. TXAI_ECL may be reported periodically by the UE, triggered by events in the UE, by request from the network control node 20, or by any combination of the above reporting methods. The reporting may be dependent on the protocol between the network control node 20 and the UE.

According to an embodiment, the transmission ability indicator, e.g. TXAI_ECL, may periodically be reported. Preferably, the communication device 10 reports TXAI_ECL regularly with the same period. This period may be either a configuration parameter in the communication device 10 or is configured by the network control node 20. However, also several different periods may be used depending on the current uplink transmission ability state in the UE. By way of example, one period may be used for situations where TXAI_ECL > 1 and another period may be used for situations where TXAI_ECL < 1 . Furthermore, even more periods depending on the actual value of TXAI ECL may be used.

According to an embodiment, the transmission ability indicator, e.g. TXAI_ECL, may be reported event triggered. By way of example, the communication device 10 reports the TXAI_ECL depending on a significant change of the TXAI_ECL value, e.g. when changing from > 1 to < 1 or vice versa. According to an embodiment, the granularity of events which trigger a TXAI_ECL report depending on the actual value of TXAI ECL may even be higher.

According to an embodiment, the transmission ability indicator, e.g. TXAI_ECL, may be reported upon request by the network control node 20. Accordingly, the network control node 20 may request a TXAI_ECL report from the communication device 10 depending on the scheduling scheme or strategy of the network control node 20, the current scheduling situation or event triggered, e.g . in case the network control node 20 detects a situation where that the communication device 10 may have problems with fulfilling its scheduling grants.

According to an embodiment, any combination of the above TXAI_ECL reporting approaches may be deployed. Accordingly, any of the above described reporting methods may be combined in other embodiments. By way of example, a possible protocol between communication device 10 and network control node 20 may have the following rules:

The transmission ability indicator is sent by the communication device 10 until the first transition of TXAI_ECL from > 1 to < 1 . By way of example, each or a transition from TXAI_ECL from > 1 to < 1 and vice versa is reported by the UE. In case of TXAI_ECL > 1 , transmission ability indicator is only transmitted by the communication device 10 after a request from the network control node 20. In case of TXAI_ECL < 1 , the transmission ability indicator may be sent periodically.

Subsequently, a scheduling scheme for the communication device 10 may be adapted. In this case, network control node 20 may receive the TXAI_ECL and if necessary may adapt the scheduling for the communication device 10 with the goal of optimizing the capacity utilization of the network control node 20 depending on implemented scheduling strategies.

In case of TXAI_ECL < 1 , which means that communication device 10 indicates that it currently needs to apply uplink throughput throttling in order to fulfill the scheduling grants from the network control node 20, the network control node 20 may reduce the amount of scheduling grants for the UE. If TXAI_ECL includes a quantitative indication about the amount of the preferred uplink throughput throttling, then amount of scheduling grants for the communication device 10 may be reduced by a factor derived from the TXAI_ECL. Additionally or alternatively, the resource block allocation may be reduced within the scheduling grants. If TXAI_ECL includes a quantitative indication about the amount of the actual needed uplink throughput throttling, then the amount of resource block allocations within the scheduling grants for the communication device 10 may be reduced by a factor derived from the TXAI_ECL value. According to some embodiments, a combination of the above mentioned approaches may be deployed.

In case of TXAI_ECL > 1 which means that communication device 10 has spare capacity in order to fulfill more scheduling grants and/or scheduling grants with an allocation of more resource blocks and the actual uplink throughput of the communication device 10 is below its target throughput, the network control node 20 may increase the resource block allocation within the scheduling grants. If TXAI_ECL includes a quantitative indication about how much more scheduling grants may be handled, then the amount of resource block allocations within the scheduling grants for the communication device 10 may be increased until the target throughput of the communication device 10 is reached but maximally by a factor derived from the TXAI_ECL value.

According to some embodiments, the amount of schedul ing grants for the communication device 10 may be increased. If TXAI_ECL includes a quantitative indication about how much more scheduling grants may be handled, then the amount of scheduling grants for the communication device 10 may be increased until the target throughput of the communication device 10 is reached but maximally by a factor derived from the TXAI_ECL value.

According to some embodiments, a combination of the two above mentioned approaches may be deployed.

According to some embodiments, the communication device 10 may inform the network control node 20 about its energy consumption limitation when registering in the network control node 20. Because of this energy consumption limitation the communication device 10 may not be able to serve all uplink scheduling grants in situations where the energy consumption or heat energy dissipation of the communication device 10 gets too h igh . The information about the energy consumption limitation of the communication device 10 includes the information that the communication device 10 is able to provide the indication about its current transmission ability considering the energy consumption limitation (TXAIECL) to the network control node 20. For this e.g . the RRC communication device 10 capability transfer procedure may be used by e.g. adding a parameter which indicates this capability.

If the network control node 20 is able and willing to use the TXAI_ECL information for the scheduling of the communication device 10 then the network control node 20 may configure the communication device 10 to activate the reporting of TXAI_ECL with the parameters which define the reporting of TXAI_ECL and, optionally, with the parameters which define the determination of TXAI_ECL, e.g. t_average_ECL. For this configuration e.g. the RRC connection establishment and RRC connection re-establishment procedures may be used. Alternatively a new RRC procedure may be introduced which configures the communication device 10 without a relation to an active RRC context. Reconfiguration may e.g. be done by a RRC connection reconfiguration procedure.

With reference to the transmission of the transmission ability indicator, the 3GPP LTE standard allows for adding new records/formats in the uplink and downlink physical control channels. The TXAI_ECL reporting itself may because of the timing requirements be performed via the uplink physical control channel. In case the reporting of TXAI_ECL triggered by network control node 20 requests is supported, then these requests may be transferred from the network control node 20 to the communication device 10 via the downlink physical control channel. Alternatively the reporting and/or the requesting is not done on physical level but on layer 3 level by using e.g. RRC messages. In this case the physical control channel structure may remain unchanged for instance according to LTE.

With reference to an energy storage limitation aware scheduling for the U E, in case there is an absolute or peak energy consumption limit form the host current supply which is below the worst case energy consumption of the communication device 10 in a subframe, an energy storage may be attached to an optional power management unit of the U E. According to some embodiments, optionally, the impact of the energy storage limitation (ESL) on the uplink transmission ability may be considered for determining the scheduling for this UE.

According to an embodiment regarding the determination of the current uplink transmission ability indicator, the communication device 10 may know the storage capacity of the attached energy storage and monitors during uplink transmission phases the actual energy consumption. The communication device 10 may knows how its energy consumption depends on downlink and uplink parameters. The communication device 10 may determine a transmission ability indicator, e.g. TXAI_ECL, to inform the network control node 20 whether the actual scheduling grants may be handled by the communication device 10 considering the storage capacity of the attached energy storage. Depending on the used transmission method, the determination of TXAI_ECL is performed either event-triggered or periodically.

According to an embodiment relating to ESL aware scheduling, an indication may be determined whether the communication device 10 may or may not handle all uplink scheduling grants from the network control node 20 because of a limited energy storage capacity. The communication device 10 may use the current state of the uplink throughput throttling functionality to determine TXAI_ECL.

A value TXAI_ECL = 1 of the transmission ability indicator may indicate that the communication device 10 may in the current situation handle all scheduling grants from the network control node 20, i.e. that the attached energy storage does not limit the uplink transmission behavior.

A value of TXAI_ECL = 0 may indicate that the communication device 10 may in the current situation not handle all scheduling grants from the network control node 20, i.e. the attached energy storage limits the uplink transmission behavior and that the communication device 10 may apply uplink throughput throttling for reducing an amount of data, e.g. payload and/or signalling data, for transmission.

According to another embodiment relating to ESL aware scheduling, the value of TXAI_ESL may be determined in the same way as described above. In addition, an indication may be determined about the maximum uplink scheduling pattern interval duration t_ESL,sched_pattern,max which may be ha nd l ed by th e communication device 10 considering the storage capacity of the attached energy storage, the actual network control node 20 parameters, e.g. used band, bandwidths, etc., the actual downlink throughput, the actual parameters which define the uplink transmission power, e.g. TPC, path loss, etc., and the actual resource scheduling grants.

The maximum uplink scheduling pattern interval duration:

T_ESL,sched_pattern,max = t_ESL,TX_on + t_ESL,TX_off may be calculated by assuming that the energy storage is fully charged at the beginning of the uplink scheduling pattern interval, determining t_ESL_TX_on with the assumption that as much as possible uplink resources are scheduled by the network control node 20 at the first subframes t_ESL_TX_on of the uplink scheduling pattern interval considering the actual network control node 20 parameters and parameters which define the uplink TX Power, which may correspond to the number of resources which lead to a discharging of the energy storage to a threshold wh ich j ust allows the correct operation of the UE, determining t_ESL_TX_off,throughput as the maximum subframes without uplink data transmission which secure that the average uplink throughput is still kept averaged over the whole uplink scheduling pattern interval , e.g. t_ESL_TX_on + t_ESL_TX_off,throughput, determining t_ESL_TX_off,storage as the minimum subframes without uplink data transmission which secure that the energy storage is fully charged after the whole uplink scheduling pattern interval, t_ESL_TX_on + t_ESL_TX_off,storage,

t_ESL_sched_pattern,max = t_ESL_TX_on + max(t_ESL_TX_off,th rough put, t_ESL_TX_off,storage.

Subsequently, the current transmission ability indicator may be reported, i.e. transmitted towards the communication network control node 20. The reporting of the transmission ability indicator TXAI_ECL and optionally reporting of t_ESL_sched_pattern,max may be performed periodically by the communication device 10 or may be triggered by events in the communication device 10 by request from the network control node 20, or by any combination of the above reporting methods. This may also be dependent on the protocol between the network control node 20 and the communication device 10.

According to an embodiment, the TXAI_ECL may periodically be transmitted, i.e. reported. Correspondingly, the communication device 10 reports TXAI_ECL and, optionally, plus t_ESL_sched_pattern,max with the same period . This period is either a configuration parameter in the communication device 10 or is configured by the network control node 20. According to an embodiment, several different periods may be used depending on the current uplink transmission ability state in the communication device 10. E.g. one period for situations where TXAI_ESL = 1 and another period for situations where TXAI_ESL = 0. According to an embodiment, the reporting of the TXAI_ECL may be event triggered. Accordingly, the communication device 10 reports TXAI_ESL and, optionally, t_ESL_sched_pattern,max, depending on a change of the TXAI_ESL value and/or on the t_ESL_sched_pattern,max value, e.g. when TXAI_ESL is changing from 1 to 0 or vice versa.

According to an embodiment, TXAI_ESL reports may be requested by the network control node 20. Correspondingly, the network control node 20 requests a TXAI_ESL and, optionally, t_ESL_sched_pattern,max, report from the communication device 10 depending on the scheduling strategy of the network control node 20, the current scheduling situation or event triggered, e.g. in case the network control node 20 detects a situation where that the communication device 10 may not be able to fulfill its scheduling grants.

According to an embodiment, any combination of the above TXAI_ESL reporting methods may be deployed or combined in other embodiments. An exemplary protocol between communication device 10 and network control node 20 may have the following rules:

- No TXAI_ESL plus t_ESL_sched_pattern,max report is sent by the communication device 10 until the first transition of TXAI ESL from 1 to 0;

- a transition or each transition from TXAI_ESL from 1 to 0 and vice versa is reported by the UE;

- In case of TXAI_ESL = 1 , a t_ESL_sched_pattern,max report is only sent by the communication device 10 after a request from the network control node 20.

Subsequently, an adaptation of scheduling may be performed. In this regard, the network control node 20, e.g. the eNode B in case of LTE, may receive the transmission ability indicator TXAI_ESL and, optionally, t_ESL_sched_pattern,max, and may adapt the scheduling scheme for the communication device 10 with the goal of optimizing the capacity utilization of the network control node 20 depending on implemented scheduling strategies.

In case of TXAI_ESL = 0, which means that the communication device 10 indicates that it may apply uplink throughput throttling in order to fulfill the scheduling grants from the network control node 20, the network control node 20 may reduce the amount of scheduling grants for the UE, or reduce the resource block allocation within the scheduling grants, or apply a combination of the two above mentioned methods.

In case of TXAI_ESL = 1 , which means that communication device 10 has spare capacity in order to fulfill more scheduling grants and/or scheduling grants with an allocation of more resource blocks and the actual uplink throughput of the communication device 10 is below its target throughput, the network control node 20 may increase the resource block allocation within the scheduling grants, increase the amount of scheduling grants for the UE, or may apply a combination of the two above mentioned methods.

In case of TXAI_ESL = 1 , which means that the communication device 10 has spare capacity in order to fulfill more scheduling grants and/or scheduling grants with an allocation of more resource block, but the actual uplink throughput may be handled by the U E, the network control node 20 may decrease as much as possible a relation of the number of subframes with an active uplink data transmission to the number of all uplink subframes, i.e. to apply DTX by keeping the same uplink throughput. In case the report includes t_ESL_sched_pattern,max this value indicates the maximum uplink scheduling pattern interval which may be handled by the communication device 10 in the current situation. Therefore, the network control node 20 may use an uplink scheduling pattern interval for the communication device 10 which is lower or equal to t_ESL_sched_pattern,max.

For the control of the functionality and the reporting of the indicators to the network control node 20 the same concepts are valid as described with reference to the TXAI_ECL.

Accord ing to some embod iments, a com bination of ECL and ES L aware scheduling for the communication device may be performed. In this regard, the above-described ECL aware scheduling approach may be used for handling an communication device 10 with an average energy consumption limitation but without an attached energy storage. For communication devices with an attached energy storage due to an absolute or peak energy consumption limit form the host current supply which is below the worst case energy consumption of the UE, the above-described methods may be combined. A possible combination of these two methods may be as follows: In order to determine the current uplink transmission ability indicator, any embodiment of the ECL aware scheduling may be combined with any other embodiment of the ESL aware scheduling.

Subsequently, the current uplink transmission ability indicator, TXAI, may be reported as follows:

- TXAI = 2: in case TXAI_ECL < 1 , i.e. the energy consumption limitation limits the uplink TX ability,

- TXAI = 1 : in case TXAI_ECL > 1 AND TXAI_ESL = 0, i.e. the energy consumption limitation does not limit the uplink TX ability but the energy storage limitation limits the uplink TX ability,

- TXAI = 0: in case TXAI_ECL > 1 AND TXAI_ESL = 1 , i.e. the uplink TX ability is currently not limited.

A possible protocol between communication device 10 and network control node 20 may have the following reporting rules for the uplink TX ability report:

- No report with the TXAI is sent by the communication device 10 until the first transition of TXAI from 0 to > 1 ,

- A change or each change of TXAI is reported by the UE,

- In case of TXAI = 2, a report is sent periodically, at least including the TXAI_ECL value,

- I n case of TXAI = 1 a report is sent periodically, at least including the t_ESL_DTX,max value,

- In case of TXAI = 0 a report is only sent by the communication device 10 after a request from the network control node 20.

Subsequently, the scheduling scheme may be adapted. In this regard, the network control node 20 may receive the uplink transmission ability indicator and may adapt the scheduling for the communication device 10 with the goal of optimizing the capacity utilization of the network control node 20 depending on implemented scheduling strategies.

In case of TXAI = 2 the network control node 20 may adapt the scheduling as described e.g. for TXAI_ECL < 1 for ECL aware scheduling.

In addition, the network control node 20 may consider to use a DTX cycle which is lower or equal to t_ESL_DTX,max. It shall be noted that as an further alternative the communication device 10 may in this case calculate and forward a different t_ESL_DTX,max, namely one which relates to the situation that the network control node 20 would have already applied the scheduling scheme according to the calculated TXAI_ECL value.

In case TXAI = 1 the network control node 20 may adapt the scheduling as described with regard to TXAI_ESL = 1 and actual communication device 10 uplink throughput is above or equal a target for ECL aware scheduling.

In case TXAI = 0 and the actual uplink throughput of the communication device 10 is below its target throughput the network control node 20 may adapt the scheduling scheme as described with regard to TXAI_ECL > 1 for ECL aware scheduling.

In addition, the network control node 20 may consider to use a DTX cycle which is lower or equal to t_ESL_DTX,max.

In case of TXAI = 0 but the actual uplink throughput may be handled by the UE, the network control node 20 may adapt the scheduling as described with regard to TXAI_ESL = 1 and actual communication device 10 uplink throughput is above/equal target for ECL aware scheduling.

For the control of the functionality and the reporting of the indicators to the network control node 20 the same concepts are valid as described above for TXAI_ECL. According to some embodiments, the network control node 20 may consider energy consumption limitations in the communication device 10 for determining the scheduling of the communication device 10 which may lead to an improved usage of network control node 20 capacity. The concept may also include the consideration that the energy consumption behavior of the communication device 10 is not completely deterministic and depends also on the environmental temperature or other environmental impacts like antenna mismatches.

The network control node 20 may consider energy storage limitations in the communication device 10 for determining the scheduling of the communication device 10 which leads to an improved usage of network control node 20 capacity. Further, the network control node 20 may fast react on the current energy consumption situation in the UE. Further, the network control node 20 does not need to be aware of the energy consumption behavior of the communication device 10 as the communication device 10 transfers the current situation into relative values which are related to the current scheduling parameters. Therefore the network control node 20 does not need to know/store the energy consumption behavior of the connected communication device 10.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1 . A communication device (10) for communicating to a communication

network according to a scheduling grant received from a network control node (20), comprising:

- a processor (101 ) for generating a transmission ability indicator, the transmission ability indicator indicative of an ability to transmit data according to the scheduling grant; and

- a transmitter (103) for transmitting the transmission ability indicator towards the network control node.

2. The communication device (10) according to claim 1 , wherein the

scheduling grant is indicative of a number of assigned resource blocks, in particular of a number of carriers.

3. The communication device (10) of claim 1 or 2, wherein the transmission ability indicator indicates whether the communication device is able to fulfill or not to fulfill the scheduling grant.

4. The communication device (10) of one of the preceding claims, wherein the transmission ability indicator is indicative of one of:

- an acknowledgement of transmission of the number of resource blocks,

- a request for a reduction of the number resource blocks, and

- a request for an increase of the number of resource blocks.

5. The communication device (10) of to the preceding claims, wherein the scheduling grant comprises a number of scheduling grants for a certain time interval, and wherein the ability indicator is indicative of at least one of:

- an acknowledgement of a number of scheduling grants,

- a request for a reduction of the number of scheduling grants, - a request for an increase of the number of scheduling grants.

The communication device (10) of to the preceding claims, wherein the ability indicator is indicative of at least one of:

- a spare capacity with respect to an actual scheduling grant,

- a number of additional scheduling grants which can be handled by the communication device, and

- a duration, in particular a maximum duration, of the uplink scheduling pattern interval.

The communication device (10) of anyone of the preceding claims, wherein the processor (101 ) is configured to generate a value of the transmission ability indicator in dependence of one or plurality of parameters associated to an energy storage (107), e.g. an amount of stored energy or a capacity, the energy storage being loaded from a power supply (105) associated to the communication device and dedicated to provide energy to the transmitter (103).

The communication device (10) of anyone of the preceding claims, wherein the processor (101 ) is configured to determine an energy consumption value of the communication device, and to generate a value of the transmission ability indicator on the basis of said value and an energy consumption limit.

The communication device (10) of the preceding claim, wherein the processor (101 ) is configured to compare the energy consumption value with the energy consumption limit, and to generate the transmission ability indicator as follows:

- if the energy consumption value is greater than an energy consumption limit, to generate the transmission ability indicator indicating that the communication device is not able for a transmission according to the scheduling grant, - otherwise, to generate the transmission ability indicator indicating that the communication device is able for a transmission according to the scheduling grant.

10. The communication device (10) of anyone of preceding claims 8 - 9,

wherein the energy consumption limit is based on a heat dissipation limit associated to the communication device or to any devices within the communication device.

1 1 .The communication device (10) of anyone of preceding claims 8 - 10,

wherein the energy consumption value is based on one of:

- an average energy consumption, in particular an actual average energy consumption per uplink scheduling pattern interval,

- a target energy consumption,

- a basic energy consumption without data transmission,

- an available energy for transmission,

- an amount of energy stored in the/an energy storage, or

- a heat dissipation.

12. The communication device (10) of anyone of the preceding claims, wherein the processor (101 ) is configured to determine the transmission ability indicator periodically, upon request, and/or upon a change of a transmission ability.

13. The communication device (10) of anyone of the preceding claims, being configured to communicate with the communication network according to the Long Term Evolution technology as set up by 3GPP.

14. A network control node (20) for scheduling a communication of a

communication device towards a communication network, the network control node comprising: - a receiver (201 ) for receiving a transmission ability indicator over the communication network, the transmission ability indicator indicating an ability of the communication device to transmit according to a scheduling grant; and

- a processor (203) for adapting a scheduling scheme for the

communication device upon the basis of the transmission ability indicator.

15. The network control node (20) of the preceding claim, wherein the

scheduling scheme comprises at least one of:

- a number of resource blocks for transmission within a uplink scheduling pattern interval,

- an amendment of resource blocks for transmission within a uplink

scheduling pattern interval,

- a number of uplink scheduling pattern intervals for transmission,

- a number of scheduling grants for the communication device,

- a duration of the uplink scheduling pattern interval, and

- a scheduling ratio between a number of uplink scheduling pattern

intervals for transmission and a total number of uplink scheduling pattern intervals.

16. The network control node (20) of anyone of the preceding claims 14 - 15, wherein the processor (203) is configured to adapt the scheduling scheme if the received transmission ability indicator differs from a previously received transmission ability indicator or upon change of the scheduling scheme or upon change of environmental conditions.

17. The network control node of anyone of the preceding claims 14 - 16, being an eNodeB according to the Long Term Evolution specifications of 3GPP.

18. A communication system, comprising: - the communication device (10) of anyone of the claims 1 to 13; and

- the network control node (20) of anyone of the claims 14 to 17;

19. A method for managing communications of a communication device (10) towards a communication network, the method comprising:

- generating (401 ) a transmission ability indicator, the transmission ability indicator indicating an ability of the communication device for transmission according to a scheduling grant; and

- transmitting (403) the transmission ability indicator towards the

communication network.

20. A method for scheduling communications of a communication device (10) towards a communication network, the method comprising:

- receiving (501 ) a transmission ability indicator over the communication network, the transmission ability indicator indicating an ability of the communication device to transmit data according to a scheduling grant; and

- adapting (503) a scheduling scheme for the communication device upon the basis of the transmission ability indicator.

21 .A communication method, comprising:

- managing (601 ) communications of a communication device(10) according to claim 19; and

- scheduling (603) communications of the communication device towards the communication network according to claim 20.